Netflix just confirmed that our summer will get a little hotter thanks to the platform's upcoming premieres, which just so happen to be black AF.

Netflix has been adamant about their initiative to increase diversity as it refers to programming, and has resulted in a summer watch list for the ages. This year, the network announced it's initiative to connect organically with the black community by investing in original black content that is created by black industry professionals and I'm here for it.

Has it really been a whole year since the terror squad kicked down the doors and shut down the revolt at Litchfield Prison? Will a prominent black female comedian finally get a one-hour special? Is Menace II Society really as good of a movie as you remembered it to be? Find out next month on Netflix. Here's everything we have to look forward to:

1. Available July 27: Orange is the New Black

Season 6 is here and I can't hold my excitement. The highly-famed Netflix original makes its return on July 6, when we'll discover Daya's fate and find out if Taystee's crew ever truly got justice for our girl Poussey (RIP). If you're as anxious as I am for the show's multi-episode premiere, go back a few seasons and binge watch previous episodes to hold you over until the end of the month.

2. ​Available July 6: Menace II Society

s.hdnux.com

The 1993 cult classic Menace II Society was a bold statement about the violence and drug infested reality that young black people in the hood were faced with in the 90's. If you're itching for a dose of nostalgia, take a trip to South Central with a young Jada Pinkett and Larenz Tate July 1.

3. Available July 20: Last Chance U: Indy

i2.wp.com

The Emmy-nominated docu-sports series follows compton-native Coach Jason Brown who transformed a Kansas city community college team with a consistent losing streak into potential NFL superstars. The third season premieres July 20 and will dive into the personal and professional lives of small town athletes with dreams way bigger than their hometown. The premiere will be a treat for our athletically inclined readers, and will serve as eye candy for readers like me who know nothing about sports.

4. Available July 13: ​How It Ends

www.joblo.com

How It Ends stars Forest Whitaker and Kat Graham and is a suspense thriller that focuses on a father and his estranged son-in-law as they race across the country to save the life of his daughter and unborn grandchild. The storyline seems generic until you throw in the fact that the world is ending and nobody seems to understand why: major plot twist. It premieres July 13.

5. Available July 3: The Comedy Lineup

So, Netflix hasn't quite picked up the hint that we're ready to see a comedy special starring a black woman that is less than a decade old, but, we'll give them some time to catch up. On the other hand, we can commend the network for shaking up the comedy game in terms of diversity as a part of their new series, The Comedy Lineup. The multi-part series will feature a diverse and melanin inclusive group of stand-up comics in 15-minute segments. Stars to look for include Sam Jay, the queer stand-up comedian and writer on Saturday Night Live who's making waves in the industry, and Michelle Buteau, a Caribbean-American podcast host with curves that hit just as hard as her punchlines.

6. Available July 13: ​Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain

25.media.tumblr.com

Netflix is throwing it all the way back and releasing Kevin Hart's 2013 feature film where he opens up about fatherhood, horseback riding, and his wildly traumatic and hilarious childhood. Let Me Explain was a classic and was the origin of some of his most famous quotes, including "Alright, alright, alright." I hope you read that in your Kevin Hart voice.

7. Available July 6: Free Rein

pogd.es

For a more kid-friendly option, be sure to binge Free Rein. In the series, Zoe, played by Jaylen Barren (Shameless), is a biracial teen from Los Angeles who discovers a love for horseback riding after spending the summer with her British grandfather in England. The Netflix Original premiered last summer and is the recipient of awards from the NAACP and the Emmys. Season 2 of the series premieres July 6.

Featured image by Shutterstock

Related Articles Around the Web
ALSO ON XONECOLE